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Georgia women, Iowa State set to meet in second round

SPOKANE, Wash. — Through all of his success in 18 seasons at Iowa State, a loss in 1999 still sticks with Bill Fennelly.

That same game also sticks out to Georgia’s Andy Landers for completely different reasons — it was the last time the Lady Bulldogs reached the Final Four.

“I don’t have great recall on a lot of games,” Landers said. “But I do remember that game.”

The two long-tenured coaches will reacquaint themselves tonight when the fifth-seeded Cyclones (24-8) face the No. 4 seed Lady Bulldogs (26-6) in the second round of the NCAA women’s tournament. The winner will advance to the regional semifinals across town at the Spokane Arena next Saturday night.

It’ll be just the third meeting all-time between the two schools, all coming in the NCAAs. But it’s the first meeting, back in March 1999 in Cincinnati, that holds meaning for both.

Fennelly was still in the process of building the Cyclones’ program. Iowa State made the tournament for the first time in 1997 and two years later was on the verge of the Final Four. The Cyclones knocked off top-seed Connecticut in the regional semifinals to set up that meeting against Georgia.

The experience remains a moment that hasn’t left Fennelly’s memory because the Cyclones have only gotten to the regional finals one other time since losing to Georgia 89-71 back 14 years ago.

“There are certain things in life they are always in your head,” Fennelly said Sunday. “ ... It shouldn’t haunt you or make you miserable, but I think it should motivate you and keep you grounded.”

For Landers, the 1999 season also is special because of the performance by Georgia star Kelly Miller that led the Lady Bulldogs to the Final Four. Miller scored 33 points as Georgia built a big early lead and coasted to the 18-point victory. The Lady Bulldogs lost in the national semifinals that season to Duke, completing a five-year run where Georgia went to the Final Four three times.

Bulldogs’ D vs. Cyclones’ 3’s

The Cyclones knocked off No. 12 seed Gonzaga 72-60 in the first round Saturday, but they do have concerns. Georgia is one of the nation’s top defensive teams, giving up just 53 points per game during the regular season and holding down Montana in a 70-50 win Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs also have superior depth and the luxury of having fresh players able to enter and play the type of intense defense that Landers requires.

Against Gonzaga, the Cyclones shot 25 3s, making nine, the 12th time this season Iowa State made at least nine 3-pointers in a game. Alabama was the only team that made that many 3s against Georgia this season.

“One thing that stands out is their size and the way they go about using it,” Georgia guard Jasmine James said. “They have players who have pretty good height but as well can step out and shoot it. They shoot the ball very well.”